Caffeine is a stimulant found in tea, coffee, soft drinks, chocolate, kola nuts, energy drinks and some over-the-counter medications. Coffee is one of the most common sources of high caffeine intake. During pregnancy, caffeine clearance from the mother’s blood slows down significantly. Results from some observational studies suggest that excess intake of caffeine may be associated with growth restriction, reduced birth weight, preterm birth or stillbirth.
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Restricting caffeine intake during pregnancy
Intervention | Last updated: 9 August 2023
WHO Recommendations
For pregnant women with high daily caffeine intake (more than 300 mg per day), lowering daily caffeine intake during pregnancy is recommended to reduce the risk of pregnancy loss and low birth weight neonates.
Guidelines and guidance documents
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GRC-approved guidelines
Evidence
Systematic reviews used to develop the guidelines
A meta-analysis of risk of pregnancy loss and caffeine and coffee consumption during pregnancy
Li J, Zhao H, Song JM, Zhang J, Tang YL, Xin CM. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2015;130(2):116-22.
Chen LW, Wu Y, Neelakantan N, Chong MF, Pan A, van Dam RM. Public Health Nutr. 2016;19(7):1233-44.
Effects of restricted caffeine intake by mother on fetal, neonatal and pregnancy outcomes
Jahanfar S, Jaafar SH.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015, Issue 6. Art. No.: CD006965.
Summary of this review
Rhee J, Kim R, Kim Y, Tam M, Lai Y, Keum N, et al. PLoS ONE. 2015;10(7): e0132334.
Chen LW, Wu Y, Neelakantan N, Chong MF, Pan A, van Dam RM. BMC Med. 2014;12:174.
Cost-effectivenеss
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Relevant cost-effectiveness analyses have not yet been identified.
Category 1 intervention
Guidelines have been recently approved by the WHO Guidelines Review Committee